Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has removed all 17 members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in what he calls a necessary step to “restore public trust” and reduce conflicts of interest. His official statement labeled the committee as little more than a “rubber stamp,” prompting its full replacement.
The ACIP has advised the CDC on vaccine policy since 1964; its recommendations guide routine vaccinations and influence federal insurance coverage . Kennedy’s actions follow earlier policy shifts under his leadership—most notably ceasing vaccine recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, and making unilateral COVID‑19 guideline changes without committee input.
Medical organizations swiftly condemned the move. The American Medical Association warned the shake-up undermines scientific integrity and public confidence, particularly amid declining vaccination rates and rising measles cases. Public health experts argue that bypassing the panel disrupts a process rooted in transparency, expertise, and data-driven decisions.
Kennedy intends to fill the vacancies quickly, claiming replacement with unbiased, conflict-free experts within weeks. Skeptics worry his replacements could align with his known vaccine-skeptic views, further eroding trust in public health guidance. Additionally, vaccine manufacturer stock prices fell in response, signaling investor anxiety over foreseeable instability in vaccine regulation.
This dramatic restructuring underscores a turning point in U.S. health policy where political decisions increasingly intersect with public health infrastructure, raising alarms about the future of evidence-based vaccine recommendations.
